View source for Port Talbot

{{Short description|Town and community in Wales}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Port Talbot
| static_image_name = <!-- images and maps  -----------> {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| perrow            = 1/2/2/2/2
| total_width       = 250
| image1 = Port Talbot panorama from hillside - Swansea Bay - panoramio (1) (cropped).jpg
| image2 = High Street, Port Talbot - geograph.org.uk - 1041928.jpg
| image3 = Port Talbot Steelworks - geograph.org.uk - 41552.jpg
| footer = From the top, View of Port Talbot from above, with the elevated [[M4 motorway|M4]] to the bottom-left, The High street, [[Port Talbot Steelworks|Steelworks]]}}
| static_image_caption = 
| coordinates = {{coord|51.59055|-3.79859|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| population = 31,550
| population_ref = (2021)<ref name=Citypop>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/wales/neath_port_talbot/W45000537__port_talbot/ Port Talbot: built up area] City Population. Retrieved: 8 March 2023</ref>
| os_grid_reference = SS755895
| unitary_wales = [[Neath Port Talbot]]
| lieutenancy_wales = [[West Glamorgan]]
| country = Wales
| post_town = PORT TALBOT
| postcode_area = SA
| postcode_district = SA12, SA13
| dial_code = 01639
| constituency_westminster = [[Aberafan Maesteg (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberafan Maesteg]]
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Aberavon (Assembly constituency)|Aberavon]]
| module= [[File:2024 Wales Neath Port Talbot Community Port Talbot map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}
'''Port Talbot''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|p|ɔːr|t|_|ˈ|t|ɔː|l|b|ə|t}}, {{small|UK also}} {{IPAc-en|p|ɔːr|-|,_|p|ə|-|,_|-|ˈ|t|æ|l|b|ə|t|,_|-|ˈ|t|ɒ|l|b|ə|t}})<ref>{{citation|last=Wells|first=John C.|year=2008|title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary|edition=3rd|publisher=Longman|isbn=9781405881180}}</ref> is a town and [[community (Wales)|community]] in the [[county borough]] of [[Neath Port Talbot]], [[Wales]], situated on the east side of [[Swansea Bay]], approximately {{convert|8|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} from [[Swansea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/|title=OS Maps|publisher=Ordnance Survey}}</ref> The [[Port Talbot Steelworks]] covers a large area of land which dominates the south east of the town. It is the largest steelworks in the United Kingdom, and one of the largest in the world, but has been under threat of closure since the 1980s.<ref>[http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Remembering-fight-save-steelworks/story-28142894-detail/story.html "New BBC television series will recall the fight to save Port Talbot steelworks in the 1980s", ''South Wales Evening Post'', 10 November 2015]. Accessed 3 April 2016</ref> The population was 31,550 in 2021,<ref name=Citypop/> comprising about a fifth of the 141,931 population<ref name=Varbes>[https://www.varbes.com/population/neath-port-talbot-population Population of Neath Port Talbot] Varbes. Retrieved: 7 March 2023</ref> of Neath Port Talbot.

==History==
Modern Port Talbot is a town formed from the merging of multiple villages, including [[Baglan, Neath Port Talbot|Baglan]], [[Margam]], and [[Aberafan]]. The name 'Port Talbot' first appears in 1837 as the name of the [[Port of Port Talbot|new docks]] built on the south-east side of the [[river Afan]] by the Talbot family. Over time it came to be applied to the whole of the emerging conurbation.<ref>[http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2016-01-19/port-talbot-and-its-long-tradition-of-steel-making/ ITV News] (accessed: 13 March 2017)</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/25/port-talbot-wales-steel-tata-job-cuts Guardian] (accessed: 13 March 2017)</ref>

The earliest evidence of humans in the Port Talbot area has been found on the side of Mynydd Margam where Bronze Age farming ditches can be found from 4,000 BC. There were Iron Age hill forts on Mynydd Dinas, Mynydd Margam, Mynydd Emroch and other nearby hills. Mynydd Hawdref contains remains of an ancient Iron Age village. The Margam deer herd dates from Norman times but deer in the area were mentioned during Roman occupation.<ref>[http://www.margamcountrypark.co.uk/1248 Margam Deer Herd] (accessed: 18 June 2013)</ref><ref>Ordnance Survey Map, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Area, 2012</ref>

Ffynnon Pedr is a [[holy well]] which flows from the hillside through a {{convert|16|x|16|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} stone culvert in Margam. This may have been a water supply for Margam Abbey, {{convert|1/2|mi|m|abbr=off}} to the east.<ref>{{Coflein|num=305628|desc=Ffynnon Pedr|access-date=25 December 2016}}</ref>

The Cross of Brancuf an early Christian Sculptured Stone which stands in the church of St Catharine at Baglan. It is an intricately sculptured cross-slab with a Latin cross and an inscription recalling Brancuf. Originally it stood in the old St Baglan's church but that fell into ruin in the late 19th century and the slab was removed to St Catharine's. St Baglan (Bagelan), son of King Ithael Hoel of Brittany, was a 6th-century hermit and follower of [[Illtud|St Illtud]]. He founded the first church at the town that now takes his name. In the vestry of St Catharine's church sits a cross-slab dating from the 8th–10th century CE. It is intricately decorated with a Celtic-style cross formed out of knotwork (cord-plait knotwork) and interlacing; the ends of each arm are probably of a Latin design. Also, there is a Latin inscription: FECIT BRANCUF or perhaps BRANCU which when translated reads 'was made by Brancuf'. However, the person known as Brancuf is unknown.<ref>[http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=27363] (accessed: 25 December 2016)</ref>

The English antiquarian [[John Leland (antiquary)|John Leland]] made an extensive journey through Wales c.1536–39 of which he recorded an itinerary. He passed through Aberafan, which he describes as a "poor village" surrounded by barren ground, though he also describes the area as heavily wooded, not much of which remains today. He mentions the use of the river mouth as a port. His portrayal of Aberafan as a small, struggling village suggests that the port was not in great use, especially as traffic to and from Margam Abbey would have ceased following its [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolution]] in 1536.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/itineraryjohnle00lelagoog/itineraryjohnle00lelagoog_djvu.txt |title=Full text of "The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535–1543. parts I to [XI&#93; |year=1964 |publisher=Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Press |access-date=6 September 2013}}</ref>

The area of the parish of [[Margam]] lying on the west bank of the lower Afan became industrialised following the establishment of a copperworks in 1770. The Afan was diverted and a dock was opened in 1839 named for the Talbot family,<ref name="Davies,p.697">{{cite book|title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales|editor1=John Davies |editor2=Nigel Jenkins |editor3=Menna Baines |editor4=Peredur I. Lynch |publisher=University of Wales Press|location=Cardiff|year=2008|page=697}}</ref> local landowners who were related to the pioneer photographer, [[William Henry Fox Talbot]]. The Talbots were patrons of Margam Abbey, and also built [[Margam Castle]]. [[Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot]] (1803–1890), a [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Glamorganshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Glamorgan]] from 1830 until his death, saw the potential of his property as a site for an extensive [[ironworks]], which opened in early 1831.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
[[File:Coast Defence Radar Station - geograph.org.uk - 715191.jpg|thumb|Margam Coast Defence Radar Station]]
The remains of a [[Chain Home Low]] early warning radar station are situated in [[Margam Country Park]], dating from [[World War II]] ({{circa|1941–1943}}). Designed to guard against enemy surface craft and submarines in the Bristol Channel, the station comprises three squarish concrete buildings with flat roofs, set on the Margam ridge facing south-east and overlooking the Channel. The most north-westerly building retains the framework of a steel gantry, the base for a rectangular radar transmitter/receiver array, known as a 'bedstead array' from its wires and framework, and is believed to be a unique survivor within the British Isles.<ref>{{Cadw|uid=1421|class=SM|num=GM488|desc=Chain Home Low Radar Station, Margam|access-date=6 January 2017}}</ref>

In 1970 a new deep-water harbour was opened by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]]. This harbour was capable of discharging [[iron ore]] vessels of 100,000 [[deadweight tonnage]] (DWT),<ref>[http://www.oceannavigator.com/article.php?a=1315 www.oceannavigator.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927064237/http://www.oceannavigator.com/article.php?a=1315 |date=27 September 2007 }} article link not accessible.</ref> a tenfold improvement on the old dock. By the early 21st century, due to further modification and dredging, the harbour is capable of harbouring vessels of over 170,000 DWT.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abports.co.uk/Our_Locations/South_Wales/Port_Talbot/ |title=AB Ports web page for Port Talbot |publisher=Abports.co.uk |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref>

== Governance ==

{{OSM Location map
|coord ={{coord|51.585|-3.785}}
|zoom = 12
|width = 400
|height = 500
|caption =

|minimap = file bottom left
|mini-file = Wales relief location map.jpg
|mini-width = 70
|mini-height = 87
|minipog-x = 39
|minipog-y = 77
|scalemark = 135

| mark-sizeD=11

|mark-coord = {{coord|51.565333|-3.7602639}}
|label = Steelworks
|label-pos = left
|label-color = hard grey
|mark-title = [[Port Talbot Steelworks]]
|mark-image = Port Talbot Steelworks - geograph.org.uk - 41552.jpg
|mark-description = Tata Steel at Port Talbot

|mark-coord1 = {{coord|51.59557|-3.82073}}
|label1=Aberavon beach
|label-color1 = hard grey
|label-pos1 = bottom
|mark-title1 = [[Aberavon Beach]]
|mark-image1 = Aberavon Beach - geograph.org.uk - 41808.jpg
|mark-description1 = the beach stretches for 2 miles north of the port

|mark-coord2 = {{coord|51.60138|-3.794167}}
|mark2 = UK-Motorway-M4.svg
|mark-size2 = 23,9
|mark-title2 = [[M4 motorway]]
|mark-image2 = Port Talbot & the M4 Corridor - geograph-3685831-by-Kevin-Corcoran (1).jpg
|mark-description2 = the M4 runs through Port Talbot at high level

|mark-coord3 = {{coord|51.5628|-3.7254}}
|label3 = Margam^Castle
|label-pos3 = left
|mark-title3 = [[Margam Castle]]
|mark-image3 = 26 Margam Castle 18th Nov 2009 (6378116297).jpg
|mark-description3 = Margam Castle belonged to the Talbot family

|mark-coord4 = {{coord|51.59784|-3.78396}}
|label4 = Civic Centre
|label-pos4 = right
|mark-title4 = Neath Port Talbot Civic Centre
|mark-image4 = Princess Royal Theatre - geograph.org.uk - 381872.jpg
|mark-description4 = The Civic Centre for the county borough of Neath Port Talbot

|mark-coord5 = {{coord|51.602|-3.818478}}
|mark-size5 = 0
|label5 = Sandfields
|label-color5 = soft grey
|label-pos5 = top
|label-size5 = 12
|mark-title5 = Sandfields
|mark-image5 = Sandfields - geograph.org.uk - 41834.jpg
|mark-description5 = Sandfields is an area of housing North of Port Talbot town centre

|mark-coord6 = {{coord|51.6208|-3.8432}}
|mark-size6 = 0
|label6 = River Neath
|label-color6 = soft blue
|label-pos6 = center
|label-size6 = 11
|label-angle6 = -34
|mark-title6 = River Neath
|mark-image6 = River Neath - geograph.org.uk - 117781.jpg
|mark-description6 = The River Neath estuary and chemical works

|mark-coord7 = {{coord|51.5745|-3.7529}}
|mark-size7 = 0
|label7 = Margam
|label-pos7 = centre
|label-size7 = 12
|label-color7 = soft grey
|mark-title7 = [[Margam]]
|mark-image7 = Margam, housing in the shadow of Mynydd Brombil - geograph.org.uk - 1006141.jpg
|mark-description7 = In the shadow of Mynydd Brombil

|     arc-coordA = {{coord|51.5748|-3.8401}}
|      arc-textA = Swansea Bay
| arc-text-sizeA = 13
|arc-text-colorA = soft blue
|     arc-angleA = 40
|       arc-gapA = 2.5
|    arc-radiusA = 0.9
}}

[[File:Talbot arms.svg|thumb|left|120px|Arms of Talbot]]
The borough of Port Talbot was created in November 1921, incorporating Margam, [[Cwmafan]] and Aberafan.<ref name="Davies,p.697"/> It was therefore 85 years after the phrase 'Port Talbot' was first used that it became officially recognised as the town's name.

Port Talbot was part of the historic county of [[Glamorgan]]. The 1974 county council re-organisation split Glamorgan into three new counties, and Port Talbot became one of the four districts of [[West Glamorgan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://anws.llgc.org.uk/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=34&coll_id=76498&expand= |title=Archive Network Wales: West Glamorgan Archive Service – Context |publisher=Anws.llgc.org.uk |access-date=25 November 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224213405/http://anws.llgc.org.uk/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=34&coll_id=76498&expand= |archive-date=24 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the demise of [[West Glamorgan]] County Council in 1996, Port Talbot borough council was merged with [[Neath]] and part of [[Lliw Valley]] Districts to create the new [[unitary authority]] of [[Neath Port Talbot]] County Borough.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/19/schedule/1/crossheading/county-boroughs |title=Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, County Boroughs |publisher=Legislation.gov.uk |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> The Civic Centre is located in Port Talbot, and the town is represented by three of the 64 councillors that make up the county council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/li/councils.detail.Welsh%20Unitary-Neath%20Port%20Talbot%20Council/#Port_Talbot |title=council details for Neath Port Talbot |publisher=southwalesguardian.co.uk |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref>

The centre of the town is covered by the [[Port Talbot (electoral ward)|Port Talbot ward]] for local council elections.

==Physical geography==
[[File:Margam Castle.jpg|thumb|[[Margam Castle]], not far from [[Margam Abbey]]]]
[[File:Holy Cross Church, Port Talbot.jpg|thumb|Holy Cross Church]]
Port Talbot occupies an area of low lying coastal plain between Swansea Bay to the west (within the Bristol Channel) and the hills and valleys of Margam Moors (which are part of the wider South Wales valleys) to the south. The town is built along the eastern rim of Swansea Bay in a narrow strip of coastal plain surrounding the River Afan estuary. Swansea is visible on the opposite side of the bay. The local beach is known as [[Aberavon Beach|Aberafan Sands]] and is situated along the edge of the bay between the River Afan and the [[River Neath]]. The other beach in Port Talbot is Margam Sands, popularly known as ''Morfa Beach''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-14667025|title=Residents fight for beach access|date=2011-08-26|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-31|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-25300297|title=Campaigners win beach footpath row|date=2013-12-10|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-31|language=en-GB}}</ref> The north-western edge of the town is marked by the River Neath. A landmark in the town is the [[Port Talbot Steelworks]].

== Human geography ==
With heavy industry and an urban motorway, Port Talbot was reported as having the worst air pollution in Wales in 2005 with a [[Particulates|PM<sub>10</sub> particulate]] level of 30{{nbsp}}μg/m<sup>3</sup> (micrograms per cubic metre). By 2018 the air quality had improved to meet the [[WHO]]'s recommended limit of 10{{nbsp}}μg/m<sup>3</sup>.<ref>{{cite web|title=Port Talbot tops pollution chart|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4303811.stm|website=BBC News|access-date=12 May 2018|date=28 February 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UK's most polluted towns and cities revealed|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43964341|website=BBC News|date=4 May 2018}}</ref>

According to the [[Office for National Statistics]] the Neath Port Talbot population had increased by 1.8 percent, from around 139,800 in 2011 to 142,300 in 2021. This was higher than the overall increase for Wales (1.4 percent), where the population grew by 44,000 to 3,107,500. In 2021 Neath Port Talbot ranked ninth for total population out of 22 local authority areas in Wales. This amounts to a fall of one place in a decade. As of 2021 Neath Port Talbot was the 11th least densely populated of Wales' 22 local authority areas. There had been an increase of 15.5 percent in people aged 65 years and over, a decrease of 2.3 percent in people aged 15 to 64 years, and an increase of 2.5 percent in children aged under 15 years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censuspopulationchange/W06000012/ | title=How the population changed in Neath Port Talbot, Census 2021 - ONS }}</ref>

== Unemployment ==
Of Port Talbot's population in 2000, 63 percent were between the ages of 15 and 64. Male unemployment in 2000 was around 9 percent. Female unemployment was around 6 percent in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10056615/rate/AGE_15_64|title=Neath Port Talbot through time – Historical Statistics on Population for the District/Unitary Authority – Rate: Percentage aged 15–64 |website=www.visionofbritain.org.uk}}</ref><ref name="visionofbritain1">{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10056615/rate/CENSUS_MALE_UNEM |title=Neath Port Talbot through time – Historical Statistics on Work and Poverty for the District/Unitary Authority – Rate: Male Unemployment |website=www.visionofbritain.org.uk}}</ref>

== Social deprivation ==
In 2010, 26.2 percent of children and young persons (under the age of 20) in [[Neath Port Talbot]] county borough were living in [[relative poverty]], higher than the 22.2 percent Welsh average.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www2.nphs.wales.nhs.uk:8080/pubhobservatoryprojdocs.nsf/61c1e930f9121fd080256f2a004937ed/7b6c4b38fb85ff1880257c2700585ca6/$FILE/Children%20and%20YP%20Profile%20Wales%20Socioeconomic%20and%20Environmental%20(Eng).pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429173038/http://www2.nphs.wales.nhs.uk:8080/pubhobservatoryprojdocs.nsf/61c1e930f9121fd080256f2a004937ed/7b6c4b38fb85ff1880257c2700585ca6/$FILE/Children%20and%20YP%20Profile%20Wales%20Socioeconomic%20and%20Environmental%20(Eng).pdf |archive-date=29 April 2021 |title=Socio-economic and environmental conditions |publisher=Public Health Wales Observatory |access-date=15 December 2017}}</ref>

According to the [[Office for National Statistics]], between April 2012 to March 2013 25,400 residents, that is 7.8 percent, between the ages of 16 and 64 were economically inactive. 60,100 residents, that is 70.3 percent, between the ages of 16 and 64 were economically active.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx/ |title=Neath Port Talbot |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref>

==Geology==
Port Talbot has a variety of bedrock and drift types.<ref>[http://www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=PES The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details] (Retrieved: 18 June 2013)</ref><ref>[http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/ukgeology/walesMap.html National Minerals Map of Wales] (Retrieved: 18 June 2013)</ref>
[[File:Margamabbey-wyrdlight-7458.jpg|thumb|[[Margam Abbey]]]]

===Bedrock geology===
South East of Port Talbot is dominated by [[Pennant sandstone]] which forms this high relief area including Mynydd Margam, Mynydd Dinas and the other mountains. The pennant sandstone is made up of two formations which are the Rhondda Member and Brithdir Member. The sandstone formed in [[Carboniferous]] swamps 300 million years ago. Pennant sandstone is a micacous sandstone which has a brown colouration with areas of red staining where iron from [[pyrite]] in coal has weathered creating a rust colouration.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Geological Society of London - A stroll along the prom – Swansea Bay |url=https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/GowerTour1 |website=www.geolsoc.org.uk |publisher=The Geological Society |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>

Lower land areas are predominantly Pennant sandstone within the [[South Wales Coal Measures Group]].{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

===Drift geology===
There is a variety of drift deposits in Port Talbot. Sandfields area of Port Talbot is built upon blown sand and [[tidal flat]] deposits. These were deposited by the wind via [[aeolian processes]] and the water by [[fluvial processes]]. Velindre area of Port Talbot is built upon an alluvial fan deposit. This deposit formed during the last glacial period 14,000 years ago. Baglan Road in Port Talbot is built upon glacial till from the [[Last glacial period|Devensian]] period. Till, also known as [[boulder clay]], is a mix of unconsolidated sediment with a range of grain sizes. This forms as the fronts of glaciers rapidly deposit material due to melting. Cwmafan in Port Talbot is built upon [[Alluvium|alluvial]] and [[glaciofluvial deposits]], formed from glacial [[meltwater]]. Baglan Moors, Fairfield and Port Talbot town centre are built upon tidal flat deposits (tides were higher 12,000 years ago allowing sandy deposits to accumulate).{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

===Economic geology===
Coal seams within the Pennant sandstone run north west-south-east and east–west. The coal seams arise from the South Wales Middle Coal Measures Formation, South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation, South Wales Lower Coal Measures Formation, Rhondda Member and Brithdir Member. Pennant sandstone is an excellent construction rock and road stone.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

===Structural geology===
Faults have an orientation of North West-South East, east–west and north–south. All are normal faults which form extension processes.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} There are also many marine fossils bands.

===Bio-stratigraphy/palaeontology===
Marine fossils found in Port Talbot region include species of bivalves, gastropods and brachiopods. Terrestrial fossils include fern tree branches, trunks, leaves and roots. Traces of organism footprints can also be found.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fossiel.net/informatie/glossary.php |title=Information about fossils: Glossary |publisher=Fossiel.net |access-date=6 September 2013 |archive-date=23 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023081725/http://www.fossiel.net/informatie/glossary.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">British Geological Society Map, Swansea and Port Talbot region</ref>

===Engineering geology===
The [[Drift (geology)|drift geology]] average thickness is between {{convert|3|and|20|m|ft|round=5|0}}. Several [[Landslide|landslips]] occur in the highlands including many bole holes historically made for the construction of the M4 motorway, [[steelworks]] and coal mines.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Hydro-geology ===
Rivers in the region are fault guided meaning that they flow is highly influenced by a structural weakness called a fault. Several natural springs occur in the highland regions with a neutral to slightly acidic ph values. Natural [[groundwater]] levels varies from {{convert|10|m|ft|round=5}} below the Taibach area of Port Talbot to over {{convert|20|m|ft|round=5}}. Rivers in the region including the River Afan (Aberafan), River Neath (Baglan Bay), [[Nant Ffrwdwyllt|Ffrwdwyllt]] (Taibach), Arnallt Brook (Taibach), Baglan Brook (Baglan), River Kenfig (Morfa Beach) and other rivers are fast flowing and are highly influenced by their mouths (end of the rivers, tidal region). A spout can be found in Baglan Park in the Baglan region of Port Talbot. Many open and uncovered reservoirs exist in the region. Water has been channelled into ditches in industrial areas of Port Talbot.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>Ordnance Survey Map, Port Talbot Region,2011</ref>

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Neath Port Talbot}}
There are four [[comprehensive school]]s situated within the Port Talbot area:
*Ysgol Cwm Brombil
*St. Joseph's Catholic School & Sixth Form Centre
*Ysgol Bae Baglan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baebaglan.school/|title=Ysgol Bae Baglan|website=www.baebaglan.school}}</ref>
*[[Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur]] – the Bro Dur campus in is Port Talbot

[[Glan Afan Comprehensive School]] and Sandfields Comprehensive School closed in 2016.<ref>[https://www.abayoflife.com/2016/08/coastal-housing-plans-glan-afan-comprehensive-school-site/ Coastal Housing plans for Glan Afan Comprehensive School site], ''Wales Online'', 9 August 2016.</ref><ref>Parry, Gemma. (12 July 2016). [http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/school-s-out-sandfields-comprehensive-students-and-staff-say-goodbye-to-closing-school/story-29504471-detail/story.html School's out! Sandfields Comprehensive students and staff say goodbye to closing school.] ''South Wales Evening Post''.</ref>

A campus of [[Neath Port Talbot College]] is located in the Margam area. The Margam campus was previously called Afan College.

The [[University of South Wales]] has a campus at [[Baglan Energy Park]] called the ''Hydrogen Centre'', which includes a Renewable Hydrogen Research and Development Centre.<ref>[https://serc.research.southwales.ac.uk/contact-us/ Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC)], ''University of South Wales'', 5 November 2020.</ref>

==Arts and culture==
Port Talbot has been called "fertile ground for movie stars" with former residents including Anthony Hopkins, Richard Burton and Ronald Lewis.<ref name="lewis">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|access-date=22 March 2025|date=22 March 2025|title=Not Quite Movie Stars: Ronald Lewis|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/not-quite-movie-stars-ronald-lewis/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJLF8pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZ9L44bX5dNB1oxxdYxdWbb_dGjt_JLq7-Cl-X7MC2-DaBHqHiM7u7IHvA_aem_6p_ROmGJ15dwMGA-RXX6mg}}</ref> 
===South Wales Miners' Museum===
The [[South Wales Miners' Museum]] is located in Cynonville, [[Cymmer, Neath Port Talbot|Cymmer]].

===Margam Stones Museum===
The nearby [[Margam Stones Museum]] has early Christian inscribed stones and Celtic crosses, including four from the area now under the Steelworks. A Roman milestone, an 8th-century pillar, and two Celtic crosses from the 10th century were all rescued from the steelworks site by the Talbot family and taken to Margam, where they are now in the museum, in the care of [[Cadw]].<ref name=boards>Sign boards at the Margam Stones Museum, undated, viewed in the Museum in June 2012</ref>

=== The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence===
[[The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence]] is a [[private museum]] in Port Talbot.<ref name="Hunter Davies">{{cite book |last=Davies |first=Hunter |title=Behind the scenes at the Museum of Baked Beans: My search for Britain's Maddest Museums|url=https://archive.org/details/behindscenesatmu0000davi |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2010 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/behindscenesatmu0000davi/page/59 59–72] |chapter=Chapter 4: The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, Port Talbot |isbn=978-0-7535-2213-4}}</ref>

===Banksy mural===
In December 2018 the artist [[Banksy]] confirmed that he produced a [[mural]] painted on the corner of a garage close to Port Talbot steelworks. On one side it depicts a boy playing in what appears to be snowfall, but the other side shows the snowfall is ash falling from a bin fire.<ref>{{cite news |title=Banksy confirms Port Talbot 'Season's greetings' piece is his |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46617742 |access-date=20 December 2018 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In May 2019, the mural was moved to a gallery in the town's Ty'r Orsaf building.<ref name="Fyfe-29May2019">{{cite news |last1=Fyfe |first1=Will |title=Port Talbot Banksy mural: Artwork arrives at new home |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48434084 |access-date=11 June 2019 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=29 May 2019}}</ref>

===''The Passion''===
{{Main|The Gospel of Us}}

In April 2011, actor [[Michael Sheen]] led a 72-hour [[National Theatre Wales]] production of a modern retelling of [[Passion play|The Passion]]. The play began at 5:30&nbsp;am on [[Good Friday]] with a seafront scene, inspired by John the Baptist's baptism of Jesus, which was watched by hundreds who had heard about it by word of mouth.

By the time the first main part of the play was performed on [[Aberavon Beach|Aberafan Beach]] at 3:00&nbsp;pm, organisers estimated up to 6,000 people had gathered to watch.

On Saturday, there were sequences in Llewellyn Street, the Castle Street underpass, [[Aberafan Shopping Centre]], the Seaside Social and Labour Club<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seasidesociallabourclub.co.uk/|title=Seaside Social & Labour Club|website=www.seasidesociallabourclub.co.uk|access-date=4 September 2014|archive-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218182747/http://seasidesociallabourclub.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Sandfields, Port Talbot|Sandfields]] and nearby Abbeyville Court.

On [[Easter Sunday]], the production returned to Aberafan Beach as part of the finale. A trial was performed on Civic Square before a procession from Station Road, with the final scene, "the cross", at Aberafan seafront. By the time the procession had reached the seafront close to where it had begun 72 hours earlier, organisers estimate over 13,000 people had come to watch on the small roundabout.

In April 2012, [[Michael Sheen]] returned to attend the world premiere of the feature-length film ''[[The Gospel of Us]]'' based on The Passion. The premiere was held at the [[Apollo Cinemas|Apollo Cinema]] (now the [[Reel Cinemas, UK|Reel Cinema]]) on the Aberafan seafront close to where The Passion took place. Tickets for the premiere sold out weeks before the showing; all six screens showed the film simultaneously. The film was also shown daily from Easter Sunday to the following Thursday prior to its UK-wide release the next day.

==Media==
Port Talbot is served by several [[Independent Local Radio]] stations: [[Hits Radio South Wales]], its sister station [[Greatest Hits Radio South Wales]], [[Swansea Bay Radio]], [[Heart South Wales]] and [[Nation Radio Wales]]. Radio Phoenix also operates a 24-hour hospital radio service for the patients and staff of [[Neath Port Talbot Hospital]] in [[Baglan, Neath Port Talbot|Baglan Moors]].

In 2005 the area was granted its first radio station when [[Afan FM]], the inspiration of a group of local young people, was awarded a five-year licence by [[Ofcom]] to serve Port Talbot and Neath. Afan FM broadcast from the AquaDome leisure complex on [[Aberavon Beach|Aberafan Seafront]]. Following a December 2009 fire at the AquaDome, Afan FM moved to Aberafan House, adjacent to the town's shopping centre. Afan FM closed in December 2011 was shut down following an unexpected tax bill.

The town has been served by several newspapers. The ''[[Port Talbot Guardian]]'' was a weekly paper published by [[Media Wales]], part of the [[Trinity Mirror]] group, but ceased publication in October 2009. The Swansea-based daily ''[[South Wales Evening Post]]'' and the weekly ''Courier and Tribune'' are distributed in the town and are published by [[Media Wales]], part of the [[Reach plc]] group.

The Welsh-language song competition ''[[Cân i Gymru]]'' is usually filmed in Port Talbot. TV programmes such as ''[[Doctor Who]]'' and ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' have filmed in the town.

The 2017 crime drama television series ''[[Bang (TV series)|Bang]]'' is set in Port Talbot.

[[Terry Gilliam]] has recounted how he was inspired to create the movie ''[[Brazil (1985 film)|Brazil]]'' after hearing a transistor radio play the song ''[[Aquarela do Brasil]]'' on the beach at Port Talbot.<ref name="NYT-19Jan1986">{{cite news |last1=Bennets |first1=Leslie |title=HOW TERRY GILLIAM FOUND A HAPPY ENDING FOR 'BRAZIL' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/19/movies/how-terry-gilliam-found-a-happy-ending-for-brazil.html |access-date=31 October 2021 |work=New York Times |date=19 January 1986}}</ref>

==Transport==
===Railway===
[[File:PortTalbotParkway-platform 2 01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Port Talbot railway station]].]]
Port Talbot is served by the [[South Wales Main Line]] at [[Port Talbot Parkway railway station]]. [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] and [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]] serve the station with services westbound to {{stnlnk|Neath}} and {{stnlnk|Swansea}} and [[West Wales Line]] and eastbound to {{stnlnk|Bridgend}}, {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}} and [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]]. Trains also run via {{stnlnk|Hereford}} and {{stnlnk|Shrewsbury}} to {{stnlnk|Crewe}} and [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester Piccadilly]].

The new £5.6 million Integrated Transport hub was completed in 2017, linking Port Talbot Parkway with new bus and taxi links. This also included extensive upgrades to the railway station and surrounding area.

===Bus===
Port Talbot [[bus station]], located adjacent to the [[Aberafan Centre]] in the centre of the town is the main bus transport hub, it is a [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] stop. Local bus services are provided by [[First Cymru]] and South Wales Transport. The bus station's layout is very distinctive for the fact that buses must perform a 270° clockwise turn to exit the station. A [[Sustrans]] cycle route has recently been constructed at this bus station as part of the [[connect2]] scheme connecting the Afan Valley with Aberafan beach. A second bus station opened in the town in 2017, at Port Talbot Parkway railway station.

===M4 motorway===
The [[M4 motorway]] passes through the town from southeast to northwest, crossing a central area on a concrete viaduct, junctions 38 to 41 serve Port Talbot, with junctions 40 and 41 being in the commercial heart of the town. This busy urban stretch of the M4, with tight bends, two-lane carriageways, short narrow slip roads and concrete walls on both sides, was the first length of motorway in Wales when it opened to traffic in 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.org/motorway/m4corbag.htm |title=The Motorway Archive. M4 in Wales – Coryton to Baglan |publisher=Iht.org |date=22 July 1966 |access-date=25 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821043142/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m4corbag.htm |archive-date=21 August 2009}}</ref> The road has a speed limit of {{convert|50|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} enforced with [[automatic number-plate recognition]] speed cameras in both directions. The stretch through Port Talbot town centre is a particular traffic congestion blackspot and there have been calls to close the slip roads at junctions 40 and 41 to improve traffic flow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/port-talbot/2007/11/22/end-road-chaos-by-closing-m4-slip-road-91466-20134914/|title='End road chaos by closing M4 slip road' – icWales |publisher=Icwales.icnetwork.co.uk |date=22 November 2007 |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> However some commuters oppose this plan since it would add more time to their journey. A new [[dual carriageway]] relief road, the [[A4241 road|Port Talbot Peripheral Distribution Road]] (PDR),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/port-talbot/2008/07/10/top-award-for-new-port-talbot-road-91466-21303962/ |title=Top award for new Port Talbot road (2008) |publisher=walesonline.co.uk |date=10 July 2008 |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> was completed in 2013. It serves as a [[distributor road]] through Port Talbot to the southwest of the M4, beginning at M4 Junction 38 and ending near Junction 41.

===Port Talbot docks===
The [[Port Talbot Docks]] complex consist of an inner set of floating docks and an outer tidal basin. Construction of the tidal basin began in 1964 and the whole basin covers about {{convert|500|acre|ha|abbr=off|sigfig=1}}.<ref>[http://www.coastguard.ukf.net/pthistory.html www.coastguard.ukf.net: Port Talbot Coastguard Search and Rescue Emergency Team History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512011047/http://www.coastguard.ukf.net/pthistory.html |date=12 May 2008 }}</ref> The tidal basin is capable of handling ships of up to 170,000 [[Deadweight tonnage|DWT]] and is used mostly for the import of [[iron ore]] and coal for use by nearby [[Port Talbot Steelworks]]. The inner floating docks were constructed in 1898<ref>[http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/downloads/udp/complete_lowquality.pdf www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk: complete_lowquality.pdf] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821171138/http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/downloads/udp/complete_lowquality.pdf |date=21 August 2008 }}</ref> and were closed in 1959. They were re-opened in 1998 for commercial shipping and in March 2007 for the import of some steel products<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abports.co.uk/news20075640.htm|title=Associated British Ports News: Port Talbot Docks Handles First Steel Cargo For Nearly Four Decades |publisher=Abports.co.uk |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> and are capable of handling ships of up to 8,000 dwt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abport.co.uk/custinfo/ports/port/facilities.htm |title=Associated British Ports: Port Facilities |publisher=Abport.co.uk |access-date=25 November 2013 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927125657/http://www.abport.co.uk/custinfo/ports/port/facilities.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> There have been proposals for the development of an [[Intermodal freight transport|intermodal freight]] terminal at the port.

==Economy==
[[File:Port-Talbot-Steelworks.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Water vapour rises in front of the [[blast furnace]]s at [[Port Talbot Steelworks]]]]
[[File:High Street, Port Talbot - geograph.org.uk - 1041928.jpg|thumb|right|High Street]]

On 20 November 2007, the [[Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform]] (BERR) granted consent for the world's largest [[biomass]] power station to be built at Port Talbot.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/7105124.stm | work=BBC News | title=£400M Wood Chip Plant Approved | date=21 November 2007 | access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> This is expected to provide enough electricity (from wood from environmentally-managed forests, mostly in North America) to supply half the homes in Wales with electricity.

Potential future development currently centres around the [[A4241 road|peripheral distributor road]] to the south (the dual carriageway road in the Margam and Taibach areas was finished in 2013), [[Baglan Industrial Park]] and [[Baglan Energy Park]] to the west, Port Talbot Docks to the southwest, [[Margam Country Park]] to the east and the Afan Valley to the north. In March 2009 [[Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council]] announced a regeneration project for Port Talbot town centre and docks, with a master plan for new homes, offices, light industry, retail developments and improvements to the railway station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4823&lang=en |title=NPT CBC – Port Talbot Consultation |publisher=Npt.gov.uk |date=15 August 2013 |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref>

In January 2021, permission was granted for a new £200m adventure resort to open in the Afan Valley. The resort will include ski slopes, zip wires, tree top high-wire courses, Bear Grylls Survival Academy, an aqua adventure park, an equestrian centre, mountain biking, BMX and skate parks, a luxury spa, central plaza with shops and restaurants, 100-bed hotel and 500 luxury lodges.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

In May 2022, the Welsh Government announced that a [[Free ports in the United Kingdom|free port]] known as the Celtic Freeport was to be established in Port Talbot and in [[Milford Haven]]. This would focus on various low carbon technologies and aim to attract inward investment.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.wales/wales-new-freeports-unveiled | title=Wales' new freeports unveiled }}</ref>

==Youth organisations==
Port Talbot is home to a number of youth organisations. They are operated by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] and a range of other charitable organisations.

===Cadet organisations===
The 499 (Port Talbot) Squadron Air Training Corps, Sea Cadets, Port Talbot Detachment and Dyfed and Glamorgan Army Cadet Force operate in Port Talbot.

==Sea rescue==
Port Talbot [[coastguard]] celebrated its centenary in 2008. The crew are the mud rescue team for the Swansea Bay area and are one of the seven rescue teams in the Gower Sector. Port Talbot inshore lifeboat is operated by the [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]] and operates in the docks, at Aberafan Beach and in the navigable sections of the local rivers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnli.org/findmynearest/station/Pages/Port-Talbot-Lifeboat-Station.aspx |title=Port Talbot Lifeboat Station |publisher=Rnli.org |date=28 August 2013 |access-date=6 September 2013}}</ref>

==Sport==
===Rugby===
The town is part of the [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] [[rugby union]] region, by which it is represented at the top level of the sport. Other teams include:
*[[Aberavon RFC]], (founded in 1876) who play in the Rugby Union Welsh Premier Division
*[[Aberavon Quins RFC]], (founded in 1891) who play in the [[WRU League 1 West]]
*[[Aberavon Green Stars RFC]]
*[[Corus (Port Talbot) RFC]]
*[[Taibach RFC]]
*[[Neath Port Talbot Steelers]], a club which plays in the [[Rugby League Conference]]

===Football===
[[Cymru South]] teams are [[Trefelin B.G.C.]], [[Afan Lido F.C.]] and [[Goytre United F.C.|Goytre United]], all based in the town.

[[Port Talbot Town]], who were relegated from the Cymru South, joined [[Baglan Dragons F.C.]] who were promoted to the [[Ardal Leagues]].

Other teams in the town include Afan United, Tata Steel United, Margam FC and Cwmafan FC.

===Port Talbot Half Marathon===
The Port Talbot half marathon is an annual event attracting hundreds of runners. The event takes place around the Glyncorrwg ponds and Afan valley area. 

===Other sports===
*Port Talbot Wheelers cycling club
*TS Multisport, running and [[triathlon]] club of employees from the [[Tata Steel]] plants in Port Talbot and [[Llanwern steelworks|Llanwern]]<ref>{{cite web |title=TS Multisport Home |url=https://ts-multisport.com/ |website=TS Multisport |access-date=19 September 2018 |archive-date=11 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811062621/http://ts-multisport.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Port Talbot Town Cricket Club founded in 1963 and playing in the South Wales Premier Cricket League

Margam Forest to the northeast of the Port Talbot is used as a venue for a stage of the annual [[Wales Rally GB]]. In the past, the rally route has traversed [[Margam Country Park]].

[[Afan Forest Park]] to the north of the town has a number of dedicated [[mountain biking]] trails including the 'Penhydd', 'Y Wâl', 'Skyline', 'White's Level' and 'W²'.<ref>[http://www.afanforestpark.co.uk/Default.aspx?page=6338 Mountain Biking in Afan Forest Park] (Retrieved: 3 May 2014)</ref>

The Aberavon beach is popular for surfing and kite surfing. A local life-saving club operates during the summer months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/nature/sites/surfing/pages/sw_aberavon.shtml|title=BBC – Wales – Nature – surfing mini site – Surfing at Aberavon|website=www.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-22}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[William Abraham (trade unionist)|William "Mabon" Abraham]] (1842–1922, b. Cwmafan), trade unionist and politician
*[[Bennett Arron]], writer, comedian, actor and author, was brought up in Port Talbot 
*[[Martyn Ashton]], British [[bike trials|mountain bike trials]] former world champion and multiple British champion, lives in Port Talbot.
*[[Keith Barnes]], Australian [[rugby league]] player, born in Port Talbot
*[[Captain Beany]], celebrity charity fundraiser, and celebrity lookalike.
*[[Robert Blythe (actor)|Robert Blythe]], Welsh actor, was brought up in Tan y Groes Street. Played Fagin Hepplewhite in the BBC comedy ''[[High Hopes (Welsh TV series)|High Hopes]]''.
*[[Di Botcher]], Welsh comedy actress.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wightwick |first1=Abbie |title=Stella actress Di Botcher remembers her first job at Port Talbot steel works |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/stella-actress-di-botcher-remembers-11216180 |website=walesonline |access-date=16 March 2020 |date=24 April 2016}}</ref>
*[[Steve Bray]], [[Opposition to Brexit|anti]]-[[Brexit]] protester.
*[[Rob Brydon]], actor and comedian who was brought up in [[Baglan, Neath Port Talbot|Baglan]], Port Talbot.
*[[Richard Burton]] was born in [[Pontrhydyfen]], Port Talbot as Richard Jenkins and had his early education in Port Talbot where he met his mentor, [[Philip Burton (theatre director)|Philip Burton]].
*[[Gabrielle Creevy]], actress who is from Port Talbot<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/in-my-skin/gabrielle|title=Gabrielle Creevy (Bethan Gwyndaf)|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=30 March 2021}}</ref>
*Leondre Devries, part of the singing duo [[Bars and Melody]] who came third on ''[[Britain's Got Talent (series 8)|Britain's Got Talent]]'' in 2014.
*[[Alan Durban]], footballer
*[[Ivor Emmanuel]], musical theatre and television singer and actor from Pontrhydyfen, Port Talbot.
*[[Peg Entwistle]], [[Broadway theatre]] actress whose 1932 suicide from atop the [[Hollywood Sign]] in Los Angeles tagged her as "The Hollywood Sign Girl" was born at 5 Broad Street, Port Talbot on 5 February 1908.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehollywoodsigngirl.com/index.html |title=(Peg Entwistle) |publisher=thehollywoodsigngirl.com |access-date=25 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210160944/http://www.thehollywoodsigngirl.com/index.html |archive-date=10 February 2012}}</ref>
*[[Christopher Evans (businessman)|Professor Sir Christopher Evans]], businessman, originally from Port Talbot
*[[Rebecca Evans (soprano)|Rebecca Evans]], soprano, from Pontrhydyfen, Port Talbot
*[[William Evans (Wil Ifan)|William Evans]] (1883–1968), writer
*[[Brian Flynn (footballer)|Brian Flynn]], Welsh footballer, influential in Wales' semi-final run at [[UEFA Euro 2016]]
*[[Bernard Fox (actor)|Bernard Fox]], actor, born Bernard Lawson
*[[Rhod Gilbert]], comedian, lives in Port Talbot
*[[Lateysha Grace]], television personality
*[[Regan Grace]], professional rugby league player for [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] and [[Wales national rugby league team]] 
*[[Richard Hibbard]], rugby union player (Wales and Lions international)
*[[James Hook (rugby union)|James Hook]], rugby union player, [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] and Wales fly-half
*[[Anthony Hopkins|Sir Anthony Hopkins]], actor, was born and raised in Margam, Port Talbot.
*[[Geoffrey Howe]], politician, was born in Port Talbot and spent his early years there. When he was made a life peer in 1992 he chose the title Baron Howe of Aberavon.
*[[Chris Jenkins (powerlifter)|Chris Jenkins]] British, European and World champion powerlifter.
*[[Clive Jenkins]] (1926–1999), trade unionist
*[[Joseph Kappen]], [[serial killer]] from Port Talbot who murdered a number of girls in the area in the 1970s
*[[Lloyd Langford]], former blacksmith turned comedian was raised in Port Talbot.
*[[Richard Lewis (journalist)|Richard Lewis]], Esports journalist, born and raised in Port Talbot.
*[[Ronald Lewis (actor)|Ronald Lewis]] (1928–1982), actor
*[[Martyn Lloyd-Jones]] (1899–1981, b. Cardiff), Calvinistic Methodist minister who ministered Bethlehem Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Sandfields, Aberafan from 1926 to 1938 prior to teaching at [[Westminster Chapel]] in London
*[[Michael Locke (stuntman)|Michael Locke]] (1979–, b. [[Neath]]), aka Pancho of TV series ''[[Dirty Sanchez (TV series)|Dirty Sanchez]]'', was raised in Baglan, Port Talbot
*[[Allan Martin (rugby union)|Allan Martin]], rugby union player (Wales and Lions international)
*[[Christina Modestou]], Welsh-Greek theatre actress and singer, born 1989
*[[Christopher Painter]], composer, born in 1962
*[[Colin Pascoe]], former Swansea City, [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] and Wales international.
*[[Dic Penderyn]], was born as Richard Lewis in Aberafan in 1803, in the centre of what is now Port Talbot but before the town was named as such in 1840. He is buried at [[St Mary's Church, Aberavon]], near the centre of the town. He was convicted of assault on an army soldier and executed.
*[[Paul Potts]], an opera singer and the winner of ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]'' in 2007, lives in Port Talbot
*[[Linda Sharp]], champion surfer from Aberafan, won the European surfing championships twice, the British surfing championships ten times and the Welsh surfing championships 19 times.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.surfersvillage.com/news.asp?Id_news=13510&Region=Spare+ |title=Carve Greatest British Surfer poll |author=Steve England |date=July 2004 |work=Surfers Village |access-date=15 February 2010 |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701192042/http://www.surfersvillage.com/news.asp?Id_news=13510&Region=Spare+ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Michael Sheen]], Welsh actor was born in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] but he was brought up in Port Talbot
*[[Rhys Taylor]], footballer born in Neath on 7 April 1990.
*[[George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy]] was born in Tydraw Street, Port Talbot and was speaker in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].
*[[Andrew Vicari]], painter was born in Port Talbot.
*[[Freddie Williams (speedway rider)|Freddie Williams]], from Margam, was the [[1950 Individual Speedway World Championship|1950]] and [[1953 Individual Speedway World Championship|1953]] [[Speedway World Championship|Speedway World Champion]]. As of [[2013 Speedway Grand Prix|2013]], Williams is the only Welshman to win the championship.
*[[Gwyn Williams (writer)|Professor Gwyn Williams]], a Welsh poet, novelist, translator and academic, born in Port Talbot in 1904.

==Special environmental protected sites==
Port Talbot has several protected sites, including [[Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI), [[Special Areas of Conservation]] (SAC) and a [[Ramsar site|Ramsar wetland site]].<ref name="naturalresources.wales">{{cite web|url=https://naturalresources.wales/guidance-and-advice/environmental-topics/wildlife-and-biodiversity/find-protected-areas-of-land-and-seas/designated-sites/?lang=en|title=Natural Resources Wales / Designated sites|website=naturalresources.wales}}</ref>
*Baglan Moors (An important site for [[northern lapwing|lapwings]] and other birds and for amphibians)
*Caeau Ton-y-fildre (SSSI)
*Cefn Gwrhyd, Rhydyfro (SSSI)
*Cilybebyll (SSSI) 
*Coed Cwm Du, Cilmaengwyn (SSSI)
*Coedydd Nedd a Mellte (SAC)
*Cors Crymlyn / Crymlyn Bog (Ramsar, SSSI, SAC)
*Craig-y-llyn (SSSI)
*Crymlyn Burrows (SSSI)
*Cwm Gwrelych and Nant Llyn Fach Streams (SSSI)
*[[Dyffrynnoedd Nedd a Mellte, a Moel Penderyn]] (SSSI)
*Earlswood Road Cutting and Ferryboat Inn Quarries (SSSI)
*Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir (SSSI)
*Fforest Goch Bog (SSSI)
*Frondeg (SSSI)
*Gorsllwyn, Onllwyn (SSSI)
*Gwrhyd Meadows (SSSI)
*Hafod Wennol Grasslands (SSSI)
*Kenfig / Cynffig (SAC), National Nature Reserve)
*Margam Moors (SSSI)
*Mynydd Ty-isaf, Rhondda (SSSI)
*Pant-y-sais (SSSI)
*Tairgwaith (SSSI)

==See also==
* [[Aberafan]]
* [[Baglan, Neath Port Talbot|Baglan]]
* [[Bryn, Neath Port Talbot|Bryn]]
* [[Cwmafan]]
* [[Goytre]]
* [[Margam]]
* [[Pontrhydyfen]]
* [[Sandfields, Port Talbot|Sandfields]]
* [[Taibach]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{commons category}}
* {{cite web|title=Air Quality Website|url=http://pollution.npt.gov.uk/|website=Neath Port Talbot Council|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927013934/http://pollution.npt.gov.uk/|url-status=dead}}
* [http://www.historicalporttalbot.com/ Port Talbot Historical Society]
* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2742434 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Port Talbot and surrounding area]

{{Neath Port Talbot}}
{{Neath Port Talbot electoral wards}}
{{Neath Port Talbot communities}}
{{Wales subdivisions}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Port Talbot| ]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Wales]]
[[Category:Towns in Neath Port Talbot]]
[[Category:Communities in Neath Port Talbot]]
[[Category:Rally GB]]
[[Category:Swansea Bay (region)]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Wales]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Wales]]